Sharpitor, West

Length of the alignment. View from the west (Scale 1m).

A single stone row measuring 132m long, including at least 54 mainly medium-sized stones together with some small and large stones situated on a south west facing slope. The row is orientated north east to south west, there is a cairn at the upper (NE) end and a tall pillar at the other. An usual feature is a stone set next to the row midway along its length. The row stands near three other rows, several cairns, prehistoric settlement and fields.

Location

England     Devon     Dartmoor     SX 55058 70748     Lat 50.518516   Long -4.0458937

Map showing the location of Sharpitor, West stone row

Simplified plan of the Sharpitor, West stone row. (Source: Butler, J., 1994, 45).

Map showing the position of Sharpitor West, other stone rows and sites. 

Characteristics

Type: Single Length: 132m
No. of stones: 54 Size of stones: Small, medium and large
Orientation: 50° Altitude: 323m
Upper end: Cairn Lower end: Pillar
Straight (Yes or No)  : No Sea View: Yes
Context:  Cairns, prehistoric settlement and field system
Notes:

Other Information

Public Access:  Yes
Land Status: National Park
Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes

Identification

Category: Plausible. Despite the mangled state of this row no doubts have been expressed regarding its prehistoric interpretation.

Typology

This stone row is of Type S12. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.

Photographs

The terminal pillar. View from west (23 April 2013).

A series of stones forming part of the lower length of the row. View from the south.

Small widely spaced stones. The undisturbed  large stones next to the row demonstrates the row builders had chosen to ignore these much larger ones. This happens at a number of other rows and demonstrates that they were not always concerned with creating megalithic monuments. Small stones were clearly considered sufficient for the purpose even when larger ones were readily available.   

A single stone set next to the row may indicate that this point on the row was particularly significant.

Looking north east along the row.

The cairn at the top of the row.

Access Information

Car parking is available at SX 55678 70644. From here walk due west for about 700m.

Online Resources 

Megalithic Portal    Megalithic Portal     PastScape     Historic Environment Record

Prehistoric Monuments of Dartmoor     Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks     Sea Views

Other References

Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 215.

Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities – Vol. 3 – The South-West, Devon Books Exeter, pgs. 43-44.

Timeline

VISITED:- 23rd April 2013 

FIRST PUBLISHED:- 24th January 2016

LAST UPDATED:- 22nd November 2020